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World News Today Highlights: Persian Gulf oil flows hit pre-conflict levels amid Iran war, US says
Chris Wright said 18 million barrels of oil moved through the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, matching pre-conflict levels.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said 18 million barrels of oil flowed through the Persian Gulf on Tuesday. In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Secretary Wright said, “We’ve risen the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf to record highs right now. About 18 million barrels flowed out yesterday, basically pre-conflict levels.”
Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree said a F-15 jet was downed over Marib using a locally made air-to-air missile. The Yemeni Armed Forces claimed Saudi warplanes carried out more than 450 airstrikes across seven provinces this week, causing civilian casualties. It said the strikes involved F-15 and Typhoon aircraft operating from Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases. In response, Yemen claimed it shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib while it was conducting operations in support of Saudi military deployments. In a post shared on X, Yahya Saree denied Saudi claims that Yemen had targeted Mecca in a drone attack, saying its operations were aimed at oil facilities and military bases away from the holy sites.
بيانٌ صادرٌ عنِ القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنيةِ
قالَ تعالى: { یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوۤا۟ إِن تَنصُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ یَنصُرۡكُمۡ وَیُثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَكُمۡ } صدقَ اللهُ العظيم
شنَّ الطيرانُ الحربيُّ السعوديُّ خلالَ هذا الأسبوعِ أكثرَ من 450 غارةٍ جويةٍ من… pic.twitter.com/R8KVtGqxXW
— العميد.يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) September 16, 2026
As Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping and infrastructure have intensified, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as attacks threaten Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. He met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Tuesday.
3 killed in helicopter crash in Los Angeles
At least three were killed when a helicopter crashed near the scene of a bus crash in Los Angeles in the United States. The helicopter crashed in Chatsworth while crews were covering a deadly bus crash. The crash happened around 7pm near a one-storey commercial building as news crews covered an SUV-bus crash that killed at least three people and injured six others. NBC4 Los Angeles confirmed its helicopter had gone down. Capt. Branden Silverman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said, “We’re trying to determine how many patients were inside the helicopter.”
- US House votes 220-204 for third time to end Iran war and limit Trump’s military action. The war powers resolution would require congressional approval for continued military action.
- The US confirms for the first time it has deployed weapons in space, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink says. Meink said the US has fielded on-orbit space-control weapons to defend forces against hostile actions.
- South Korea seeks to postpone parliamentary briefing on the USD 350 billion US investment plan. The briefing was seen as a final step before Seoul and Washington finalise terms of the investment pledge under their trade deal.
- Saudi crown prince seeks Egypt’s backing as Houthi attacks threaten shipping, oil infrastructure. Houthi advances and an attack on Saudi Arabia’s biggest pipeline have raised concerns over oil exports and global prices.
Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.
Travel advisory – Saudi Arabia - Level 3: Reconsider travel. Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of Iranian drone and missile targeting of American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do Not Travel to the Yemen border due to threat of terrorism. Read more: https://t.co/WYgXG51blI
— U.S. Embassy Riyadh (@USAinKSA) September 16, 2026
China’s foreign minister urged Iran and the US to remain rational and exercise restraint, warning against further spillover of regional tensions into Yemen and the Red Sea. The minister also backed dialogue between Iran and Gulf states based on mutual respect for sovereignty and security. China said continued hostilities were not in the interests of the parties involved or the international community.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first associate member. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received a standing ovation from European lawmakers and is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday. Von der Leyen said the EU and Canada would build on their existing CETA free trade agreement through an “Alliance for the Future” focused on economic security and shared democratic values. The expanded partnership would cover advanced manufacturing, technology, defence production, the Arctic, energy, critical minerals, batteries, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity and economic security. Von der Leyen said the partnership was aimed at strengthening ties with Canada, “not against anyone else”.
The European Commission will present its EU Kids Act on Thursday, with tighter rules for children's online accounts.
The US embassy cited risks from possible Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting US interests.
The Canadian prime minister said key areas of cooperation between Canada and Europe were discussed.
China on Wednesday opened the USD 10.75 billion Pinglu Canal, creating a new maritime gateway for its southwestern provinces and strengthening trade links with ASEAN. The canal is part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connecting inland China with Southeast Asia and other global markets. It is also the first nationally planned river-to-sea canal project since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The waterway will provide a more direct route for coal, ore, grain, new-energy materials and automobile parts to reach international markets. China’s trade with ASEAN crossed USD 1 trillion for the first time last year.
A displaced person walks through a camp in Taiz province, Yemen, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Marzouq Al Jabri)
The Yemeni Armed Forces said the jet was downed over Marib using a locally made air-to-air missile. he Yemeni Armed Forces claimed Saudi warplanes carried out more than 450 airstrikes across seven provinces this week, causing civilian casualties. It said the strikes involved F-15 and Typhoon aircraft operating from Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases. In response, Yemen claimed it shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib while it was conducting operations in support of Saudi military deployments. It also said its forces targeted two Saudi formations of F-15 and Typhoon jets, forcing them to retreat while searching for the downed aircraft. The statement said Yemen would continue defending its airspace and sovereignty. It also denied Saudi claims that Yemen had targeted Mecca, saying its operations were aimed at oil facilities and military bases away from the holy sites.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought Egypt’s support as Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping and infrastructure have intensified, driving up global oil prices. He met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Tuesday. The attacks have strengthened the Houthis’ ability to disrupt Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. A recent strike also damaged Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which regional officials said could remain largely shut for weeks, potentially removing several million barrels of oil a day from the market. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Egypt also expressed its “unwavering” support for Saudi Arabia, though no details of any future action were announced.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attempted drone attack on the holy site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, saying the people of Pakistan were “saddened and perturbed” by the incident. Sharif praised the Royal Saudi Armed Forces for their “vigilance, courage and professionalism” and said Pakistan stood with Saudi Arabia in defending its sovereignty and the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain. He also urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, saying the region had suffered enough from conflict and that dialogue and diplomacy were the only sustainable path towards peace.
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the dastardly and heinous attempted drone attack against the Holy Site of Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
The people of Pakistan are saddened and perturbed by this outrageous act. There can be no words strong enough to capture the depth of…
Two earthquakes struck northwestern Nepal early Wednesday, authorities said. The first, measuring 4.5, was recorded at 1:51 am, while the second, measuring 4.2, hit at 4:28 am. Both earthquakes were centred around Kalai in Mugu district, according to the National Seismological Research Centre. No casualties or damage were reported immediately.
The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that would include 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, potentially making it the largest US sale of such munitions to Israel in recent years, The Washington Post reported. The package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads. The deal has been informally notified to congressional committees and is being pushed for approval by the administration. The sale would be financed through the US Foreign Military Financing programme. A US official said pending arms sales were not being discussed and that all foreign weapons sales were going through the appropriate process. The proposed deal would exceed previous US sales of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel. In 2024, the Biden administration suspended one shipment over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, but the policy was reversed by Trump after he returned to office in January 2025.
Russian officials are prominently featuring military veterans who fought in Ukraine, with some leading party tickets, appearing in campaign videos and taking part in televised debates. Election officials say nearly 200 candidates have served in Ukraine. The Kremlin has described the veterans as part of Russia’s “true elite”, presenting them as having an honoured place in civilian life. Analysts, however, question whether most will gain real political influence, viewing the effort as a way to encourage more people to join the military. The election, beginning Friday, is the first State Duma vote since the war began and will also be held in Ukrainian territories Russia has captured and illegally annexed. The Kremlin is tightly managing the election as it seeks to reinforce its narrative of support for the war.
Pakistan is considering measures, including a possible ‘smart lockdown’, to reduce petroleum consumption amid rising fuel prices and tensions in West Asia, PTI reported. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review options for cutting transport-related fuel use in government and private sectors. Petrol prices were raised by Rs 4.10 to Rs 384.34 per litre, while high-speed diesel rose by Rs 6.41 to Rs 415.83. The increases came amid warnings of possible oil supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Saudi Arabia is offering more crude oil to Asian refiners through ship-to-ship transfers off Oman’s Sohar port after drone attacks damaged its key East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, sources said. Saudi Aramco has offered Arab Light, Arab Medium and Arab Heavy to Asian buyers for loading off Sohar. The offers suggest Aramco is moving more crude out of the Gulf for transfer outside the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has doubled daily crude loadings at its Ras Tanura and Juaymah terminals to about 4 million barrels, according to Energy Aspects. Kpler data showed four VLCCs capable of carrying 8 million barrels loading at Ras Tanura on Wednesday. The kingdom shut its East-West pipeline on Friday after drone damage and repeated Houthi attacks. The pipeline had been used to divert crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu after the Iran war severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Bhutan on September 16-17 at the invitation of Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with Dhungyel, receive a royal audience with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and call on Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. The visit comes as India places importance on its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. In August, the two countries reviewed cooperation on trans-border rivers, including flood management, hydrological data sharing and the Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project. They also discussed upgrading Bhutan’s hydro-meteorological network and expanding cooperation on sharing hydrological data on transboundary rivers.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to attend US President Donald Trump’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, a source familiar with the matter said. Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in Washington on September 24. Huang’s attendance comes amid growing concerns over AI risks, with Nvidia supplying chips to AI developers. The US and China are the two major forces driving advanced AI development and its global adoption. State dinners are among the highest diplomatic honours a US president can offer a foreign leader and are usually reserved for allies. Xi hosted a similar dinner for Trump during his May visit to China, which Huang also attended alongside Elon Musk and Tim Cook. Trump has hosted one state dinner since beginning his second term, for Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Thailand has proposed a meeting between Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and US President Donald Trump on September 17 or 18, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said. Thailand aims to finalise trade negotiations before the meeting, leaving tariff rates and any final adjustments for the leaders to discuss. The US imposed a 12.5% tariff on Thai imports in July. The US is Thailand’s largest export market, accounting for 24% of its exports so far this year.
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